Alpha Lipoic vs. R-Lipoic

[Nervous]

I've been searching the site for info on r-lipoic.

Can anyone provide substantive info regarding the relative benefits of switching from alpha lipoic to r-lipoic.

I seem to recall that mrsD said she was going to switch to r-lipoic. MrsD, are you there?

Thanks.

[Nervous]

http://www.intensivenutrition.com/rlipoic.htm




What is the "R" form?


The "R" form is the biologically active component of Alpha Lipoic Acid which means that it is the only form that one's body can absorb and synthesize thus making R-Lipoic supplementation inherently more efficient and effective. Studies have shown that R Lipoic alone may be considerably more effective than racemic Alpha Lipoic Acid.

Why use the "R" form?

R Lipoic Acid exhibits unique and superior antioxidant activity. For example, R Lipoic is able to increase or maintain levels of other important antioxidants such as glutathione peroxidase, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Coenzyme Q10. R Lipoic may also increase cellular and mitochondrial antioxidant activity and significantly reduce what is believed to be an underlying cause of aging---inflammation.

What are other benefits of R-Lipoic Acid?

*R lipoic enhances glucose uptake
*R lipoic inhibits glycosylation (where sugar abnormally attaches to protein)
* R Lipoic is helpful for skin health and skin vitality

[mrsD]

I have just returned from my vacation...

I use the r-lipoic 100mg a day. (for over a year now)

I never had much results from the old alpha type.

[Nervous]

mrsD, what "results" have you had with r-lipoic at 100 mg a day?

Thanks.

[mrsD]

much less burning. And overall I see to be metabolically more stable with my blood sugars... When I started the r-lipoic I saw a nice increase in energy during the day. Now that has tapered off or I just got used to the new level of functioning.

[Nervous]

That sounds good. Can you recommend (or PM me) a brand?

I've been taking 600 mg of Jarrow's Alpha Lipoic Acid with Biotin. When I recently ran out, I thought I was experiencing a relapse of my foot cramps, and an increase in burning and fatigue. As soon as I went back on it, I felt a bit better.

Obviously, the fluctuations in my symptoms could be due to something else, but it occurred to me that it might be the alpha lipoic acid.

[Electron]

Originally Posted by Nervous

I've been searching the site for info on r-lipoic.

Can anyone provide substantive info regarding the relative benefits of switching from alpha lipoic to r-lipoic.

I seem to recall that mrsD said she was going to switch to r-lipoic. MrsD, are you there?

Thanks.

I've read that r-lipoic should be twice as potent as ALA. I'm calculating that on iherb.com, Doctor's Best R-Lipoic Acid is about 3.4 times as expensive as Jarrow Alpha-Lipoic Sustain, when calculated on a $ per gram basis. So the ALA seems to be a better value to me. If the r-lipoic were less than 2 times as expensive then it might be the way to go, but it's not even close. I have been using the Jarrow for years and find it effective in reducing my pain.
Electron

[mrsD]

We really can't make those assumptions. The purified form may be more readily absorbed. Things like that.

But you stick with what works for you. That is the bottom line.

Here is some reading:
http://www.nutritionreview.org/libra...ipoic.acid.php
From what I gather there, it is more than 1:1 actions.
Removing the inactive form, increases activity of the remaining form.

I never had any results from the old ALA... but I do like the r-lipoic. That is just my opinion.

[glenntaj]

--give about a 1:5 to 1:8 conversion factor for alpha lipoic vs. r-lipoic (though I'm not sure just how some of these studies make this determination other than trying different amounts and surveying users as to their subjective sense of symptom reduction).

A 1:6 ratio is often cited--100mg of R-lipoic is roughly equivalent in effect to 600mg of alpha-lipoic. (That would help with the expense issues if relatively accurate across people). I myself went from 600mg/day alpha to 100mg/day R-lipoic without appreciable symptom difference.

[mrsD]

One can also get an indication by the way the capsules are made.
100mg is the highest dose for r-lipoic.

Lipoic acid works slowly anyway, so noticing what is happening takes time, and many people give up if the timing is long.

The studies were for at least 60 days.